Canada’s Pospisil advances to Valencia quarter-finals with win over Bedene

VALENCIA, Spain – Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil reached the quarter-finals of the Valencia Open by beating Britain’s Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday.

Pospisil fired seven aces and broke Bedene on two of six chances. The Canadian saved the only break point he faced.

Pospisil was in control throughout against Bedene but needed seven match points to finish it off.

“I played very well, stayed focused every point and didn’t give him much room to breathe”, Pospisil said. “I felt like I was hitting pretty big from both sides off the ground. That was the key to winning the match.”

Next up for Pospisil is either German qualifier Daniel Brands or top seed David Ferrer of Spain.

Also Wednesday, Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay upset third-seeded Bernard Tomic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Cuevas landed just 38 per cent of his first serves in the first set, but saved six of the seven break points he faced in the second and then earned the only break in the decider to clinch the win in one hour 48 minutes.

American Steve Johnson set up a second-round meeting with second-seeded Feliciano Lopez by ousting Martin Klizan 6-3, 6-4.

Johnson broke Klizan in the fourth game of the first set, then rallied from 4-1 down in the second and sealed the win when Klizan netted a forehand return.

“I played well enough to win and that’s all that matters”, Johnson said. “At 1-4 and break point down that probably would have been the end of the set I think, but I played a good game and then found a way to break back. And then from there I played great to break again. I’m just happy to get through.”